Colorado lawmakers are considering a solution that would give these deserted gas wells a new, redemptive purpose: deep receptacles to trap carbon for millennia.
DENVER — From Colorado’s high desert to the wooded hills of Pennsylvania, millions of oil and gas wells sit deserted, plunging thousands of feet into the earth. Many haven’t been plugged, some leak greenhouse gases.
Colorado lawmakers gave initial approval Thursday for a study to assess whether biochar would work to plug defunct wells. Carbon naturally cycles through Earth’s ecosystems, floating in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide before being snatched up by little bluestem grasses, ingested by grazing bison on the prairie, and when the animal keels over and begins decomposing, returning to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
North of Denver in the small town of Berthoud, one company already makes biochar. On a recent day at Biochar Now’s facility, a tractor drove across the muddy yard, its bucket holding shards of wood bound for a new life as biochar. The substance has a carbon structure closer to a diamond, said Jim Ippolito, a professor at Colorado State University. While diamonds might last forever, biochar isn’t far behind and can keep the carbon inert — unable to form carbon dioxide — for centuries if not millennia. Unlike a decomposing bison, biochar pulls carbon out of the earth’s carbon cycle.
The Colorado study will determine if biochar could make up a portion of the slurry pumped into wells, and if it could be used as an ingredient in the concrete that’s poured as the plug.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
Colorado ponders storing carbon in defunct oil and gas wellsColorado lawmakers have proposed a bill to study whether a type of charcoal could be used to plug deserted oil and gas wells
Consulte Mais informação »
Colorado ponders storing carbon in defunct oil and gas wellsColorado lawmakers have proposed a bill to study whether a type of charcoal could be used to plug deserted oil and gas wells.
Consulte Mais informação »
Colorado ponders storing climate-warming carbon in defunct oil and gas wellsColorado lawmakers gave initial approval for a study to assess whether biochar would work to plug defunct wells.
Consulte Mais informação »
Colorado lawmakers consider two bills to offer more help for domestic violence victims in family courtAfter passing both Julie’s Law and Ty’s Law in 2021, Colorado lawmakers are considering two more bills to change Colorado’s court system to help domestic violence survivors. via Meghan_Lopez
Consulte Mais informação »
Colorado lawmakers to crack down on out-of-state online car dealers like CarvanaA bill to crack down on out-of-state online car retailers, such as Carvana, is on its way to Governor Jared Polis's desk. via jaclynreporting
Consulte Mais informação »
Why Colorado Tokers Love SherbacioDon't expect to tackle a to-do, but it will give you a sunnier disposition when chores or surprise hassles pop up.
Consulte Mais informação »